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Here is the issue(s) with a play in tournament once (if?) the season resumes

1. It was supposed to be for 7th and 8th seeds. Will we really put the Mavs at risk for losing a spot to a team 10 games worse? Answer is obviously no

2. So, people say, 'It should only be for 8th seed"....okay - does that mean East and West? Is there really a need or a big clamoring for a tournament for the 8th seed in the East? Again, answer is no. So, now we are going to have a tournament for 1 spot in the West? Doubtful, but lets keep exploring

3. How many teams are in that tournament? 4 (Grizz, Pels, Blazers, and Kings)....well that isnt fair to the Spurs who are just a half game back of the other 3 and would have been tied with one of those teams if Pels-Kings didnt get cancelled

4. You open up Pandora's box on a tourney just for the 8 seed out West. The argument is the Pels or Blazers could have, heck maybe even were likely to, catch Memphis. Well, by that logic, the Sixers and Pacers will want a play in tournament with Miami for the 4 seed. Miami was struggling and Philly just got Embiid back, Indy just was starting to get the good Oladipo back. I am sure they feel like they could have caught Miami.

And on and on and on. It just doesnt make sense to do a play in. My guess is you see the NBA come back starting at the playoffs. Maybe, there are some local exhibition games for guys to get in shape. To get used to playing opponents with no crowd. To get refs used to calling games with no crowd (yes, that will be a major adjustment too). But I dont forsee any more reg season games or tournament. All options are bad, but this makes the most sense even though it hurts the team we like

The counter to all of this, is that it could be televised and make money.

But let's go point by point.

1. The league would absolutely could and would put the Mavs at risk. In the proposals for a play in tournament, this is exactly a scenario that could happen - with the 7th seed having distance on the 8th seed.

2. People will be starved for sports when the League comes back, there would absolutely be interest in an Eastern Conference play-in tournament featuring Nets/Magic/Wizards/Hornets

3. The team that finishes a close 11th to the teams above them in either conference was always going to get screwed. It didn't seem to deter the league when it was previously proposed.

4. If a play in tournament ever made sense, nothing about the current situation changes that. If anything, it increases the need to have it.

And see again, it would get positive attention and attract eyeballs. The negative stories would be in the distant minority to the positive.

The counter to all of this, is that it could be televised and make money.

But let's go point by point.

1. The league would absolutely could and would put the Mavs at risk. In the proposals for a play in tournament, this is exactly a scenario that could happen - with the 7th seed having distance on the 8th seed.

2. People will be starved for sports when the League comes back, there would absolutely be interest in an Eastern Conference play-in tournament featuring Nets/Magic/Wizards/Hornets

3. The team that finishes a close 11th to the teams above them in either conference was always going to get screwed. It didn't seem to deter the league when it was previously proposed.

4. If a play in tournament ever made sense, nothing about the current situation changes that. If anything, it increases the need to have it.

And see again, it would get positive attention and attract eyeballs. The negative stories would be in the distant minority to the positive.

If your team were not on the outside looking in, this wouldnt be as interesting to you as you seem to think it will be to others

There would be nothing more anti-climatic than the league returning and having games between the Magic and Hornets or the Bulls and Nets, etc.

The top teams are in the playoffs. The playoffs are what matters. Will it suck to not have Zion? Sure. But the playoffs will have Lebron and Kawhi and Giannis and Harden and all the other stars. They will be fine without a few games from Zion.

Could it happen? Sure. But the far more logical and logistically simple scenario would just be jumping into the playoffs when it resumes. Each team just traveling to one other city. Clean and simple.

I wrote an article preparing people for this before the league even pressed pause. Heck, before they even decided to try empty arenas. It was always going to end this way and it would be better to just accept it now than hope for something else and be disappointed, IMO

The counter to all of this, is that it could be televised and make money.

But let's go point by point.

1. The league would absolutely could and would put the Mavs at risk. In the proposals for a play in tournament, this is exactly a scenario that could happen - with the 7th seed having distance on the 8th seed.

2. People will be starved for sports when the League comes back, there would absolutely be interest in an Eastern Conference play-in tournament featuring Nets/Magic/Wizards/Hornets

3. The team that finishes a close 11th to the teams above them in either conference was always going to get screwed. It didn't seem to deter the league when it was previously proposed.

4. If a play in tournament ever made sense, nothing about the current situation changes that. If anything, it increases the need to have it.

And see again, it would get positive attention and attract eyeballs. The negative stories would be in the distant minority to the positive.

Given that the whole season's turned upside down, a play-in tournament would also be a great time to further experiment with the Elam ending.